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    University students' perception of workload: The challenges and vagaries of assessment.

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Dixon, Kathryn
    Scott, Shelleyann
    Dixon, Robert
    Date
    2007
    Type
    Conference Paper
    
    Metadata
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    Citation
    Dixon, K. and Scott, S. and Dixon, R. 2007. University students' perception of workload: The challenges and vagaries of assessment., in Jeffrey, R. et al (ed), Proceedings of the AARE International Education Research Conference, Nov 29-30 2006. Adelaide: AARE Inc.
    Source Title
    AARE Conference
    Source Conference
    Australian Association for Research in Education: Engaging Pedagogies
    Additional URLs
    http://www.aare.edu.au/data/publications/2006/dix06094.pdf
    ISSN
    1324 9339
    School
    School of Education
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/26508
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Evaluating the academic performance of university students is a problematic area which frequently highlights differences in perspective between students and lecturers. This study explored university students' concerns with workload and assessment. The research utilises student questionnaires and in-depth focus group interviews. The questionnaire data encompassed individual student responses over a period of six years and were analysed using statistical quantitative software. Four separate focus group interviews were conducted with first, second and third year students to explore students' insights on issues that had emerged from the questionnaire data. Students indicated that workload was a significant issue along with assessment. Unit requirements were frequently vague with few marking guidelines and little or no feedback being provided to inform progress. Group assignments were over-utilised in the curriculum and were frequently poorly structured and monitored. The over emphasis on memorisation with low cognitive assessment tasks resulted in boredom and dissatisfaction. The lessons learned from this study provide insights to professional developers within the university context. This research is part of larger study focused on supporting positive educational changes within the university context and is of particular relevance due to the ongoing demands for increasing the quality of teaching and learning.

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